EP2285000A2 - Operating device for an electric device - Google Patents

Abstract

A control device (11) comprises an operating unit designed as a rotary knob (21) and mounted on a rotary shaft (19) passing through a cover (14) of an electrical appliance (13), where the rotary shaft is connected to a switching device (16). LEDs (32) are arranged inside the rotary knob, and an inductive energy supply to the LEDs is provided having a primary winding (25) and a secondary winding (28). A control device (11) comprises an operating unit designed as a rotary knob (21) and mounted on a rotary shaft (19) passing through a cover (14) of an electrical appliance (13), where the rotary shaft is connected to a switching device (16) for rotary operation using the rotary knob. LEDs (32) are arranged inside the rotary knob, and an inductive energy supply to the LEDs is provided having a primary winding (25) and a secondary winding (28). The secondary winding is arranged inside the rotary knob whose winding plane is passed through the rotary shaft and magnetic field lines coming from the primary winding. The rotary shaft comprises a material for conducting field lines that readily conducts the magnetic field lines. The primary winding is arranged behind the cover of the electrical appliance and a winding plane of the primary winding is passed through the rotary shaft.

Description

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to an operating device for an electrical appliance with an operating unit which is designed as a rotary knob.

From the DE 10212954 A1 It is known to supply a designed as a rotary knob operating unit by a cover of the electrical device through inductively with energy. Through the closed cover through a primary winding under the cover and a secondary winding in the control unit are completely separated. The energy transfer is not very efficient.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide a control device mentioned above, can be eliminated with the problems of the prior art and in particular an advantageous embodiment of the operating device is achieved with simple and advantageous and efficient energy transfer.

This object is achieved by an operating device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated herein by express reference.

It is envisaged that the axis of rotation is connected to a switching device for rotary operation by means of the rotary knob. In the rotary knob while electrical display means are arranged, which can be used, for example, for displaying information to an operator. According to the invention an inductive power supply of the display means is provided, wherein in the rotary knob, a secondary winding is arranged and below the cover, a primary winding is arranged, which is penetrated by the axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation consists of a material which guides the magnetic field lines well. The winding plane of the secondary winding is penetrated by the axis of rotation and thus by the magnetic field lines of the primary winding. It is thus possible that a distance or the transmission path between the magnetic field lines emanating from the primary winding and the secondary winding in the operating unit is very small. In particular, the fact that the magnetic field lines of the primary winding are transmitted by the axis of rotation so to speak, and this axis of rotation penetrates the plane of the secondary winding, the efficiency of the inductive energy transfer is particularly good. As a result, so-called magnetic leakage losses are reduced, which could disturb the surrounding electrical equipment or facilities.

In a further development of the invention, it may even be provided that the primary winding itself penetrates the plane of the secondary winding. For this purpose, it can run on or in the axis of rotation for the rotary knob, for example, if this axis of rotation is a hollow axle. Again, the axis of rotation can serve to bundle the field lines or to guide to the desired extent. In addition, it then serves to hold the primary winding.

Alternatively and particularly advantageously, the primary winding can be arranged on or in the switching device, for example in a switching device housing. It may have a winding plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein it is also penetrated by the axis of rotation, and thus in turn is approximately parallel to the secondary winding in the operating unit.

To arrange the secondary winding in the rotary knob, it can either be inserted as a separate component in it. Alternatively, it may be injected. It is also possible in a further embodiment of the invention to form the secondary winding as a module, for example in a winding housing or as encapsulated component. So it can then be secured in a correspondingly shaped recess in the rotary knob, for example by snapping or gluing. So a precise location and fixed arrangement is possible.

The display means in the rotary knob are advantageously designed as LED, for example, OLED. You can display individual points of light, alternatively illuminate entire areas or even seven-segment displays or the like. form. It is also possible to use glow lamps.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a rectification is connected to the secondary winding in the rotary knob. Here, a bridge rectifier offers, which is suitable for operating the aforementioned LED as a display means.

Similar as described above only for the secondary winding, all other components can be mounted in the rotary knob by casting or by injection or encapsulation. Alternatively, other parts in the rotary knob, for example, for the power supply, for the display means such as the aforementioned rectification or the display means itself may be formed as a module. Also, they can, as described above for the secondary winding, be secured in correspondingly formed recesses in the rotary knob. Such a modular construction makes it possible to equip an operating device according to the invention or, in particular, the rotary knob with different functionalities, depending on the desired functional scope. For example, differently equipped equipment variants can be created at the same time basic structure of the rotary knob or the energy transfer.

Similarly, the parts of the power supply for the display means, which contain the primary winding and are arranged under the cover, may be formed as a module. Such a module can then be attached to the switching device, for example as a per se known attachment part.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Represent embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung durch eine erfindungsgemäße Bedienvorrichtung mit magnetisch leitender Drehachse, die eine Primärwicklung in einem Schaltgerät und eine Sekundärwicklung in einem Drehknebel magnetisch koppelt zur Energieversorgung einer Anzeige im Drehknebel,

Fig. 2

eine Abwandlung des Drehknebels aus Fig. 1 mit einem teilwei- se modulartigen Aufbau und

Fig. 3

eine weitere Abwandlung mit einem anders ausgebildeten mo- dulartigen Aufbau.

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a side sectional view through an inventive operating device with magnetically conductive axis of rotation, which magnetically couples a primary winding in a switching device and a secondary winding in a rotary knob for supplying energy to a display in the rotary knob,

Fig. 2

a modification of the rotary knob Fig. 1 with a partly modular construction and

Fig. 3

a further modification with a differently designed module-like structure.

Detailed description of the embodiments

In Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an operating device 11 according to the invention shown on an electrical device 13 with a cover 14, which may also be a so-called aperture. In the cover 14 is an opening 15th

Under the cover 14, a switching device 16 is arranged, which has a rotary switch 17. This can be used, for example, to adjust the power of an electrical functional unit of the electrical appliance 13, for example a radiant heater in the case of a glass-ceramic cooktop. The rotary switch 17 in the switching device 16 is actuated via a rotation axis 19, which extends through the opening 15 to the cover 14. There, the rotation axis 19 is inserted and fixed in a rotary knob 21 as the aforementioned operating unit of the operating device 11. The rotary knob 21 has a rotary toggle housing 22, which has just on the underside a Drehachsenaufnahme 23 for insertion or fixing the rotation axis 19. Thus, by means of the rotary knob 21, a setting on the rotary switch 17 are made. This is known from the prior art.

In the switching device 16 is located in the upper region of a primary winding 25, which consists of a multi-turn coil, for example, thin insulated copper wire with 10 to 100 turns. It may be formed in a manner known per se and fastened in a housing of the switching device 16. The primary winding 25 is connected to a drive 26, which will be discussed in more detail below. The magnetic field lines of the primary winding 25 are forwarded by the axis of rotation 19, which according to the invention consists of a material which conducts magnetic field lines well. Such a rotation axis 19 may be ferritic, alternatively of a corresponding iron or various iron alloys having the desired properties consist. Furthermore, plastics with embedded magnetic or ferritic particles are generally possible, for example iron filings or ferrite dust. Thus it can be achieved that the axis of rotation is electrically non-conductive. This is known to the skilled person and does not present him with any problems.

The upper end of the axis of rotation 19 penetrates a winding plane of a provided in the lower part of the rotary knob 21 secondary winding 28. The secondary winding 28 may be basically similar to the primary winding 25 and have a suitable number of turns, for example, 10 to 100.

It can therefore be seen that the magnetically good-conducting axis of rotation 19 magnetically couples the primary winding 25 to the secondary winding 28 and thus creates a type of transformer with the two windings 25 and 28 and a core 19. The secondary winding 28 is connected to a rectifier 29 in the rotary knob 21, which makes the transformer or inductively transmitted energy usable in a suitable form. For example, the rectifier 29 can supply power to a schematically represented microcontroller 31, possibly even with a signal control, which is inductively possible and basically known to a person skilled in the art. Above all, however, an LED 32 or another display or light display can be supplied with energy or be lit. Instead of or in addition to such an LED further or other light indicators may be provided.

In the rectifier 29, a bridge rectifier may be provided, which is just necessary for operating an LED 32. Other luminous displays or bulbs or display means may possibly be dispensed with a rectification. Alternatively and possibly more advantageously, a one-way or two-way rectification can be provided.

Depending on the selected frequency, a filter capacitor may be provided on the rectifier 29 or else omitted. Optionally, further components for power adjustment are necessary, which is known to the skilled person, however. The brightness of the LED 32 can be influenced by frequency and amplitude in the primary winding 25, that is, via the drive 26.

Characterized in that the magnetically conductive axis of rotation 19 penetrates the winding plane of the secondary winding 28, a particularly good magnetic coupling for the transformer with the two windings 25 and 28 is possible. Thus, scattering losses are reduced, which not only means a more efficient use of energy, but also reduces unwanted magnetic field lines or influences in the environment of the operating device 11.

Alternatively to an arrangement of the primary winding 25 in a housing of the switching device 16, it could also be arranged in front of this housing, that is to say be placed on the switching device 16, as it were. Then, a completely conventional switching device 16 may be used, and a Vorsatzmontage presents no problem. Then it is also possible to integrate an inverter including electronics, which can be driven with DC voltage, which allows a simple design.

In Fig. 2 an alternative embodiment of a rotary knob 21 'is shown. The rotary knob housing 22 'is basically similar, wherein the secondary winding 28' in the rotary knob 21 ', which may consist of plastic, permanently and permanently installed or injected. About two plug contacts 30, which are connected to the secondary winding 28 ', an electrical connection to the secondary winding 28'. Here, an inserted display module 34 is provided, which has a rectifier 29 'and an LED 32'. This display module 34 is inserted into a correspondingly corresponding recess formed in the rotary knob 21 ', for example, only pressed and then latched or glued. In this insertion, the contact is made via the plug contacts 30 and thus the display module 34, in particular the rectifier 29 ', electrically connected to the secondary winding 28'. In this embodiment of a rotary knob 21 'of an operating device, it is thus possible, for example, to insert different display modules 34 into the same rotary toggle housing 22' or to connect them. Thus, simple or complicated constructed and functionally equipped rotary knob 21 'can be produced.

The further modification of a rotary knob 21 "according to Fig. 3 It is characterized by the fact that a built-in module 36 is contained in the rotary knob housing 22 ", which contains a secondary winding 28" arranged in it, a slider 29 "and an LED 32" and, if necessary, further parts Functionality of the rotary knob 21 "may be included.

As before for the Fig. 2 described, the mounting module 36 is inserted into the rotary knob housing 22 "and fastened in. Such a mounting module 36 has the advantage that, similar as for Fig. 2 described, several variants can be generated in a simple manner. Above all, however, eliminates a potentially complex arranging or injecting the secondary winding in the rotary toggle housing. Likewise, this makes it possible to manufacture a rotary toggle housing made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel and then insert therein a substantially existing plastic mounting module or display module.

Claims (9)

Operating device for an electrical appliance with an operating unit, which is designed as a rotary knob and is mounted on an axis of rotation, which penetrates a cover of the electrical device, wherein the axis of rotation is connected to a switching device for rotary operation by means of the rotary knob, wherein in the rotary knob electrical display means are arranged, characterized by an inductive power supply of the display means, wherein in the rotary knob, a secondary winding is arranged, whose winding plane is penetrated by the axis of rotation and the magnetic field lines emanating from a primary winding, wherein the axis of rotation for guiding the field lines consists of a material which the magnetic Field lines well, wherein the primary winding is disposed behind the cover of the electrical appliance or the operating device and a winding plane of the primary winding is penetrated by the axis of rotation. Operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the primary winding is arranged on or in the switching device or a switching device housing. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the secondary winding is inserted or injected in the rotary knob. Operating device according to claim 3, characterized in that the secondary winding is formed in the rotary knob as a module and is fastened or latched in a correspondingly formed recess in the rotary knob. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display means are designed as LEDs. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rectification is connected to the secondary winding, preferably a bridge rectifier, for the operation of LED as a display means. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all components are fastened in the rotary knob by casting. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parts of the power supply for the display means are formed in the rotary knob as a module and is secured in a correspondingly formed recess in the rotary knob. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parts of the power supply for the display means are formed with the primary winding under the cover as a module and this is preferably attached to the switching device.

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